741 O God, why hast thou cast us off for ever? why doth thine anger smoke against the sheep of thy pasture?
741
741 O God, why do you cast us off forever? Why does your anger smoke against the sheep of your pasture?
741 You walked off and left us, and never looked back. God, how could you do that? We're your very own sheep; how can you stomp off in anger?
741 A Contemplation of Asaph. O God, why have You cast us off forever? Why does Your anger smoke against the sheep of Your pasture?
741 OÂ God, why have you rejected us so long? Why is your anger so intense against the sheep of your own pasture?
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Psalm 74:1
Commentary on Psalm 74:1-11
(Read Psalm 74:1-11)
This psalm appears to describe the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple by the Chaldeans. The deplorable case of the people of God, at the time, is spread before the Lord, and left with him. They plead the great things God had done for them. If the deliverance of Israel out of Egypt was encouragement to hope that he would not cast them off, much more reason have we to believe, that God will not cast off any whom Christ has redeemed with his own blood. Infidels and persecutors may silence faithful ministers, and shut up places of worship, and say they will destroy the people of God and their religion together. For a long time they may prosper in these attempts, and God's oppressed servants may see no prospect of deliverance; but there is a remnant of believers, the seed of a future harvest, and the despised church has survived those who once triumphed over her. When the power of enemies is most threatening, it is comfortable to flee to the power of God by earnest prayer.